Opinion by Laurie Collins,
Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust
Currently the Department of Conservation is carrying out aerial 1080 poison drops, particularly along the West Coast. These cover huge areas of public lands – two examples of several are Kahurangi National Park, 235,308 Hectares and Arawhata River valley (South Westland), 84,450 Ha.
Mid-November and into December is when red deer hinds give birth to fawns. 1080 is a slow, agonising killer. The poisoned mother hind undergoes a horrific death. The motherless fawn then dies a slow death from starvation.
Compare that to a deer farmer. If he or she were to take a hind away and leave the new born fawn to starve slowly, there would be a conviction. There’s a glaring double standard smelling of hypocrisy and blatant animal cruelty. Or is DoC content to “kill two deer with one stone.”
Surely the Minister of Conservation should be concerned?
Conservation Minister Potaka – will he speak up?
Minister Potaka has been very quiet almost mute, as Minister of Conservation but this is one issue he should be speaking out about and rapping the knuckles of the department for a very bad public image and shocking animal cruelty.
The Department of Conservation funded by taxpayers’ money is using public money in carrying out drops of 1080. Each 1080 drop in total cost (departmental time included) is said to be $2.5 million to $3 million each. That money is a sheer waste because fast breeding rats that inevitably survive will breed at maximum pace as Nature seeks to recover numbers.
Analysis of the frequency of 1080 drops shows a pattern of DOC returning to poison again, usually two to four years after the last poison drop. In some cases e.g.Lewis pass (Maruia) it is 12 months.
Pattern Revealed
A recent article on the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations website and Scoop News exposes the pattern of DOC having to return after a 1080 drop to poison again. https://coranz.org.nz/doc-design-or-ignorance-is-farming-rats-and-stoats/
Some “anti-introduced wild animal” advocates may argue that hunters kill a deer for meat and that is cruel. In doing so they remain ignorant of the death of a deer by an accurately placed bullet in contrast to a death by 1080 poison that can take at least 24 hours, not infrequently 48 hours or more.
Similarly a good farmer takes care of his stock and a strong interest in their welfare.
When an animal is killed for meat, he or she does so quickly and quietly with no feeling of guilt or jubilation. So it is with the deerstalker.
Returning to DOC’s increasing 1080 drops that are insensitively carried in November and December the cruelty goes beyond deer. Some birds notably the kea, with its ultra-curious nature, moreporks, falcons and robins all are slowly and cruelly killed by 1080 – and another slow killing toxin brodifacoum.
With both brodifacoum and 1080, any carcasses whether wild animals such as deer or birds remain toxic and any creature scavenging the carcass gets poisoned too.
The hind was killed and the fawn died a slow lingering death by starvation
Extremely hypocritical on the DoCs part, animal cruelty anywhere else is dealt to severely as is the killing of native species by an individual, 3 years in jail or a 250 thousand dollar fine yet it is well documented native species are killed by 1080 and brodifacoum in DoC s mass poisoning programs yet it’s not a problem for them.
It needs some wealthy chap to take a citizen’s case against DOC for wilfully and knowingly killing native wildlife. But then, it would be great if DOC would prosecute itself for their crimes on two counts (a) killing native wildlife from insects to birds and (b) wilful animal cruelty.
Potaka wouldn’t have a clue about DoCs mass poisoning program and the cruelty it creates
It’s quite obvious why this guy has the roll as conservation minister, it’s because he is a Mario and is untouchable. The roll fits two gloves at once! Doc are such a slimy organisation
Absolutely shocking and cruel. Use contraception instead!
Are DoC so ignorant they don’t know when red deer hinds give birth to a fawn?
Frankly I think DoC will be quite happy as they kill two deer with “one stone”.
They are a bureaucracy infiltrated by wild animal haters.
Many years ago Dr William Graf a California visited NZ to study the so called “deer menace” and said NZ departments had an “anti-exotic wild animal phobia”.
Yes the hatred is so evident. At St Arnaud school (Nelson lakes National Park), a few years ago, two yearling deer lived near to the school and the youngsters enjoyed seeing them. Reportedly the St Arnaud DOC office got to hear of the deer and had both shot.
Those deer could have been a subject for a biology lesson for youngsters explaining that as deer browsed the “bush” so did moa for some 60 million years. That could lead to telling the kids how vegetation evolved defences (thorns, divaricating and even toxins) to counter browsing.
No DOC would want the kids to know the truth.
These poisoners have to have psychopathic tendencies. These are heinous crimes carried out year after year – so distressing.
1080 is NOT CONSERVATION,1080 use by DOC is ECOCIDE . Then DOC cry wolf .They are the pest .
It amazes me how cruel, zealots can be. Wild animals are no different to farm stock in terms of feelings and sensitivity.
It also amazes me how indifferent conservation ministers can be. It seems it’s a throwaway ministerial appointment – who wants it? As a result we get almost without exception, poorly performing Ministers of Conservation. At the end of the day, it shows how lowly the conservation portfolio is ranked by governments.
Jack is so correct judging by an experience in 2008, I had with a CORANZ delegation to see newly appointed conservation minister Tim Groser. He welcomed us into his office and said along the lines of “Thank goodness, you’ve come to see me. I’m glad to see you as I know nothing about this portfolio.”
I admired his frankness and honesty (rare qualities in politicians) but it came as a shock his candid confession and underlines the conservation portfolio is ranked very low by governments.
I once lived on the West Coast near a known drinking water intake. When DoC started one of their 1080 drops in the area I approached the local contractor who was supervising the drop and pointed out that he was dropping it in a water intake area. According to him there was no problem as there was a “layer of shingle” over the intake. How stupid – or dishonest – can you be? And these are the people DoC pays to spread their vile poisons over vast areas of New Zealand.
So this crime against wildlife, farm livestock, domesticated animals and human beings continues. And those responsible either haven’t a clue about the consequences of their actions – or they know perfectly well what they are doing but put their well paid careers ahead of all other considerations. From the politicians who condone it to the bureaucrats and contractors who drop 1080 and their other poisons, they disgust me.
In parts of N.Z. we really have past tipping point, with the tragic overuse of all Ag / Hort Poisons & Chem, starting with 1080 in the Hills / High Country & right down onto the Flat, with more types of Pesticides / Weedicides / Fungicides / Fertilizer Etc. Here where I reside in Marlborough > All the Frogs are gone ! along with a lot of useful insects that were controlling weeds like Ragwort ! Starting with 1080 ? It’s being “WELL OVERUSED” & we can see the rotting dead animals , only down on the Flat we are Loosing so many other vital small creatures, that are not so obvious ? For a start our Politicians need to Legislate & WIPE all Perks & Free Bs , handed out by Big Chem, that CON People to purchase MUCH more product than needed ? so right now It’s being dumped by “OVER” application BIG TIME , so they can rush back for MORE PERKS ! In N.Z. our Doctors/ Med Staff are NOT allowed any Free Bs from Big Pharma , so we should have the same rule for Big Chem ? Our Human Health is at risk , in our water & food , plus when dry > Pesticides Etc, , will blow around in the Dust for us to Breath in , or dermal on our skin & with the high U.V. extra sunburn & skin Cancer .
Double standards on animal cruelty-one for farm stock, a blind eye to wild animals.
Shame on governments and especially DoC.
There have been instances of farm stock poisoned by 1080 and undergoing a horrific, convulsive death. One was sheep in Blenheim at Omaka aerodrome many years ago licking dust off an aircraft that had been dropping 1080. From memory 60 sheepo died.
No prosecution followed.
1080 poison is one of the most toxic substances on Earth, and despite being used to target certain species, it harms all animals who come into contact with it, causing prolonged suffering and death.
Each animal is a sentient being, and labeling them as “pests” or “targets” doesn’t lessen their ability to feel pain. Whether native or introduced, every animal exposed to 1080 experiences cruel, painful deaths. Not only animals but native birds (morepork, kea, falcon, robins etc) killed by 1080 too.
1080 is wilful cruelty.
The poison causes unnecessary suffering and death, fitting the definition of wilful ill-treatment under the Animal Welfare Act 1999?